Detachable link and hook game-piece



July 5, 1955 1.. E. REED 2,712,444

DETACHABLE LINK AND HOQK GAME-PIECE Filed Nov. 25, 1953 INVENT OR LA WREWGE 15 5550 I qf BY I ///5 ATTORNEY United States Patent DETACHABLE LINK AND HOOK GAME-PIECE Lawrence E. Reed, York, Nebr.

Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,582

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates to a game, and has for one. of its objects the production of a simple and entertaining game requiring a degree of skill and containing the elements of surprise and suspense, with scoring to add play value.

A further object of the invention is the production of a game including a plurality of attachable and detachable links which are constructed in a manner to require a degree of skill to assemble the links in chain-like formation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of one of the links, illustrating the first step of formation;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the links, illustrating the second step of formation;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of one of the links, illustrating the final step of formation;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the links as it appears after the first step of formation;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the completed links, showing the same resting upon a support;

Figure 6 is an edge elevational View of one of the links after the first step of formation;

Figure 7 is an edge elevational view of one of the links after the second step of formation;

Figure 8 is an edge elevational view of one of the completed links;

Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the completed link shown in Figures 3, 5 and 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the links while being lifted by means of the lifting hook.

By referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that 11 designates a typical link forming a part of the present game apparatus, twenty-four similarly constructed links being used in the game. The links are classified into several sets of six links each, each set being of a differently selected color. For instance, one set of links is colored red, a second set is colored blue; a third set is colored green, and a fourth set is colored yellow. Each link 11 is preferably formed of a piece of wire, plastic, or other similar material and the method of forming each link is as follows:

The material which consists of a piece of wire and the like, is first bent into the form of a semi-circular body 12 having inturned points or terminals 13 and 14 extending in the same plane with the body 12, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6, and constitute the first step of formation.

As a second step, the point or terminal 14 is bent laterally at a slight angle in one direction to the plane of the body, and the point or terminal 14 is bent laterally at a slight angle to the plane of the body 12 in the opposite direction with repect to the point 13.

As a third step, one-half of the body 12 is curved laterally in one direction and the remaining half of the body is curved laterally in the opposite direction. For instance,

one-half is curved laterally toward the right and the remaining half is curved laterally toward the left, as shown in Figures 5, 8 and 9, until only the area of the body 12 of the link 11 is left in its original plane. For the purpose of illustration, when placing the completed link upon a flat support, such as the support S, the point 13 and the central area 15 touch the support, thereby elevating the point 14 above the support to facilitate the engagement of the elevated point 14 or a portion of the elevated body 12 by a suitable hook 16 hereinafter described.

The hook'16 as shown preferably is carried by a shank 17, which shank 17 is carried by a handle 18. The hook 16, the shank 17 and the handle 18, constitute a lifting tool, and one tool of a matching color is used for each set of links or crescents.

, In playing the game, the links or crescents are placed in a pile upon a table or other support, and each player is given a lifting tool, carrying a hook 16 in a selected color which may be determined by lots or in any desired manner. The players may take turns in drawing or lifting the links or crescents from the pile.

The links or crescents may be of any suitable size, and may be placed upon a table when small links are used, or upon the floor where large links are used, in which latter case the players may sit upon chairs surrounding the pile of links and lift the links from the pile with the lifting tools.

The method of playing the game preferably is as follows:

The game may be played by two or more players, and involves a bit of skill and considerable patience, with a system for scoring. The game produces a fascinating unpredictable finish for each player as he sums up his points on the finish portion of play.

Presuming that large links or crescents are used, the players sit on chairs in a circle facing one another, with the links or crescents on the floor in a pile in front of each player. Each player takes a turn and receives a lifting tool, element or hook, of the same color as the crescents or links which he is to lift from the pile. This tool is retained throughout the game. Let it be assumed that the color selected for one player is red. All crescents or links are dumped on the floor (or on a table for smaller ones) and the crescents or links are mixed up in a pile.

With the red hook in the players hand, he hooks on to a red link or crescent, catching it by the end that turns upwardly away from the floor. This link or crescent is lifted up out of the pile. Other colors may cling to and come up out of the pile with this first-mentioned link. These other links should be gently shaken up and down, touching the floor, until all have fallen off the red link or crescent. With this first-mentioned red link free in the air, the player uses this red link to hook another red link. The player bounces and shakes the links which become attached in chain-like fashion until all other colors, other than red, fall off the chain, leaving the chain of two red links. This procedure is continued until all six red links are attached in chain-like fashion. If at any time the player finds some red links or crescents at the bottom of the pile, and it is impossible to engage either end of a red link, it is permissible to hook any other color and to lift and jostle the pile until the bottom red link or links are exposed. At no time is a player allowed to break his chain of links. If this should happen, all links must be dropped and they are mixed in the pile and the player must start again.

When the player completes a string or chain of six links, he looks in the pile for a link of any color which has one end exposed in a manner where it may be hooked on to the link at the end of the chain. If the other end of this last-mentioned link is well below the pile, the link Patented July 5, 1955 is slowly lifted into the air. It is surprising to see how manylinks or crescents cling to the string-in chain-like fashion, almost as if a strong magnet were pulling the links from the pile. When the connected links have cleared the floor, and'as manylinks as possible have been caught with one upward movement 6fthe'lifti'ng tool;

all contrasting links below thered string of links-are unhooked and are put aside in a pile oftheir oWn.- These are counted to give the players score, and these contrast-- ing links are then thrown back into the original pile. V 1

A selected score'of 300 or 500 points Wins the game. The

rules may be varied Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and certain detail changes may be made in the structure of the parts of the game so long as thesechanges fall Within the scope of the appended'clairns.

It is not desired to limit the invention to any material, color,'or number of playing elements, and any type of hook may be used as a lifting element Withinthe-spirit' of the invention.

new is:

Having described the invention, What is claimed as 29 l. A game-piece of the class described comprising a playing piece in the nature ofa substantially crescent- Referenees'Cit ed in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 254,430 Crandall Feb. 28, 1882 1,885,260 Hoglind Nov, 1,.1932 2,043,105 Voice June 2, 1936 Frazier May ll, 1937 

